Pakistan lawyers strike for democracy

Ms Bhutto's lawyers must wait until the strike is over

Lawyers throughout Pakistan boycotted the courts on Tuesday to press for an early return to democracy.

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It is the first time since the military coup in October 1999 that lawyers have taken such action.

The call was made by the profession's highest body, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), which described the action as a complete success.

Most of the courts in the country were affected as lawyers from both the Pakistan People's Party and the Muslim League joined together.

One effect was to delay the court hearing at which lawyers for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband are contesting a corruption verdict.

Demands

The strike call was issued more than two weeks ago by the PBC at a meeting in Lahore.

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They demanded a return to democracy and the restoration of the constitution.

They also wanted the withdrawal of the armed forces from the national political scene.

The BBC's Susannah Price in Islamabad says it is the first sign of protest from a major section of society as even the political parties have failed to mobilise widespread opposition

A lawyers' convention will be held in Karachi in March to be followed by other regional meetings to discuss the next move.

Corruption challenge

Benazir Bhutto's court hearing - which was put on hold - had opened on Monday with Ms Bhutto and her imprisoned husband, Asif Zardari, appeaing against their 1999 conviction on charges of corruption.

A special high court bench three years ago found Ms Bhutto and her husband guilty of misusing their authority to award a multi-million dollar contract to a Swiss firm.

They were sentenced to five-year jail terms with a ban on holding public office for seven years.

If the Supreme Court overturns the lower court's decision, it would pave the way for the former prime minister to end her self-imposed exile and return to the country.